title: Effects of alcohol-free beer on lipid profile and parameters of oxidative stress and inflammation in elderly women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the influence of alcohol-free beer on factors implicated in atherosclerosis, such as lipid profile, oxidative stress parameters, and proinflammatory cytokines, in postmenopausal women, a population particularly at risk for atherosclerotic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out in 29 nuns, 58 to 73 y old, who live in a convent with a disciplined, regular, and homogeneous lifestyle. The nuns maintained their habits and diet routine, but their meals were supplemented with 500 mL/d of alcohol-free beer (0.0%) divided into two doses over a 45-d period. Lipid profile, inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, interleukins 1 and 6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and parameters of oxidative metabolism were determined before and after the study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in the levels of C-reactive protein and proinflammatory cytokines after diet supplementation. The antibody titers to oxidized low-density lipoprotein were significant lower (P < 0.05), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (-18%, P < 0.001) and plasma carbonyl group content (-21%, P < 0.001) were decreased when compared with initial values. Increases in alpha-tocopherol levels (+9%, P < 0.05) and erythrocytic glutathione levels (+29%, P < 0.001) were also noted. With respect to lipid profile, only subjects with cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dL showed lower levels after supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumption of non-alcoholic beer produces a decrease in oxidative stress that can have a beneficial impact on cardiovascular risk; however, the circulating concentrations of inflammatory mediators involved in its pathophysiology remained unchanged.
authors.affiliation: Spanish Society of Dietetics and Food Science, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús Román
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Martínez Alvarez
authors.forename: Victoria Valls
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Bellés
authors.forename: Ana Belén
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: López-Jaén
authors.forename: Antonio Villarino
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Codoñer-Franch
mesh_terms: D001515:Beer; D001628:Beverages; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007378:Interleukins; D008055:Lipids; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000431:Ethanol; D002097:C-Reactive Protein